Oooof the ending of this really got me, I had to reread it to understand cos I read it so fast the first time I didn’t actually comprehend. Hahahha

This is definitely plot over character building but the world building and the atmosphere were incredible and everything was very vivid. I loved the mixed media here and it worked really well at dropping hints along the way. The gothic, tense writing was really lovely and I really appreciate that in a YA.  Tbh I did spend a lot of this book confused as to how the games worked and would’ve maybe liked more explanation here or some back story, you were just transported so deeply into the games and were confused alongside the character which made me not really understand how the games worked and whether everything was real or whether there was a paranormal aspect to it. Were they ever in real danger? 

I didn’t find the characters all that lovable or connect with them
Much (though I loved the captain lol) but the setting and the intricacy of the world building kinda made up for it. I did really enjoy that we didn’t know who to trust the whole time and we got to know the characters alongside our mc. They also felt very aged up compared to 
Other YA I read (which honestly was a nice change) but it did feel like this was marketed as YA but could’ve done better and had more depth as a NA?

I would love a sequel (something I don’t say very often) as I feel like this has a lot more to give. 

I didn’t particularly like the romance here (not that there was a lot of it) I just didn’t think we needed it in this complicated of a story. And both of the boys gave me the ick tbh. There was no joy there or like crushing it was just insta love but boring insta love? 

It definitely didn’t feel like the 400 pages it was. When I was reading it it went SO fast, I didn’t find it tense or feel anticipation until the last maybe 150 pages but when it started it up it started UP and everything went by so fast and was so tense till the big reveal

Would definitely read her other books!